30 Years – Still Missing

Three decades after Mélanie ETHIER went missing, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has unveiled a new billboard highlighting the clothing she was last seen wearing, urging anyone with information to come forward.

On Sunday, September 29, 1996, between approximately 1:30 a.m. and 2:00 a.m., Mélanie left a friend’s residence in the Town of New Liskeard (now Temiskaming Shores) to walk home, travelling westward on Pine Street East. Her home was located less than a kilometre away. Mélanie, who was 15 years old at the time, has not been seen or heard from since that night. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance.

Over the years, investigators have received numerous tips, including information placing Mélanie’s last known sighting on the Armstrong Street Bridge between approximately 1:35 a.m. and 1:50 a.m. The OPP’s search efforts have included ground, aviation and police canine, neighbourhood canvassing as well as water searches along the Wabi River, from the Armstrong Street Bridge to Lake Temiskaming.

A new billboard has replaced the previous one located south of Latchford on Highway 11. A second billboard has been installed on Highway 11 between Couttsville Road and Belle Vallée Road. Investigators hope that highlighting the clothing Mélanie was last seen wearing will resonate with members of the public who may remember her. She was last seen in a green Nike jacket, a black belt, black boots, a distinct necklace and possibly blue jeans.

“For 30 years, Mélanie ETHIER’s family, friends and the New Liskeard community have lived without answers. The updated billboard featuring the clothing Mélanie was last wearing is intended to trigger memories and generate new leads. We believe there are people who have information about what happened and we encourage them to come forward before it is too late. Your information could be the key to providing answers to Mélanie’s family.” – Detective Inspector Seth Adair, OPP CIB

A $50,000 reward continues to be offered by the Ontario government for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the disappearance of Mélanie.

The case remains ongoing by the Temiskaming OPP, under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB).

Anyone with information in relation to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Temiskaming OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

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OPP

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) provide policing services throughout Ontario. Our officers are responsible for policing over one million square kilometres of land and waterways. They provide frontline policing services to more than 320 Ontario municipalities and patrol over 126,000 kilometres of provincial roadways.

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